10th Annual AMPC Finalists Announced

December 18, 2012 AMPC Staff

This year’s panel of esteemed jurors has completed preliminary judging and has chosen 46 images for exhibition from almost 900 submissions. A complete list of finalists can be seen below and you can browse the 10th Annual AMPC Finalists archive.

Just Bee (Amanda Prince), Finalist - Flora & Fauna Category — Just Bee (Amanda Prince), Finalist – Flora & Fauna Category

Final judging to select this year’s Best In Show and individual category winners will take place prior to the public reception opening on March 1, 2013 at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone, NC. The exhibition will open to the public from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Voting will also begin for the People’s Choice Award on March 1, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

Once voting for the People’s Choice Award ends on May 17, 2013, competition organizers will announce this year’s award winners the following week.

Stephens Gap (Ben Keys Jr.), Finalist - Adventure Category — Stephens Gap (Ben Keys Jr.), Finalist – Adventure Category

Congratulations to this year’s finalists and thanks to everyone for submitting such great images! Your entry fees not only help raise funds for Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs SOLE Trips for students, but also show the world the unique people, places, and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians.

And the finalists are . . .

Adventure :: Imagery depicting mountain sports such as climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, etc.

Ben Keys, Jr.	“Stephens Gap”
Carol Meyhoefer	“On Line”
Tommy Penick	“Roan Trail Running”
Scott Hotaling	“Hawksbill Dawn”
Eric Heistand	“Lucy’s Dream Day”
Lynn Willis	“Jenny Allen Climbing Through Pea Soup”

Blue Ridge Parkway – Weather on the Parkway :: A rotating category each year with a different theme.

Deborah Scannell	“Vails of the Valley”
Nicole Robinson	“Ice Castles”
Annkatrin Rose	“Before the Storm”
Tommy Penick	“Fall Cycling”
Dave Allen	“Blue Ridge Parkway – Dappled Light at Craggy Gardens”
Lynn Willis	“Black Ice Alert on Grandfather”

Culture :: Imagery depicting the people, their customs, traditions, architecture, and ways of life unique to the Southern Appalachian region.

Jim Ruff	“Highlands Hammer Heave”
Nicole Robinson	“Smokin’” & “Charles’s Chicken Conversation”
Chuck Almarez	“Porta Portrait”
Debra Vanderlaan	“Scenic Overlook”
Darron R. Silva	“Momma Tried”
Houck Medford	“Blue Ridge Parkway Saviors”
John Fletcher	“Bluegrass Jam”
Suzi Phillips	“Gossip Girls”
Sue Counts	“ ‘Aunt’ Orelena’s Story”
Eric Heistand	“Cowboy Up”

Environment :: Imagery documenting environmental concerns in Central and Southern Appalachia.

Rob Travis	“Towers”
Leander Hutton	“Losing the Night”
Lynn Willis	“Return to Sender”

Flora and Fauna :: Imagery of plants and animals common to the Southern Appalachians.

B. Dudleu Carter	“Are You Looking At Me”
Jim Ruff	“The Foggy Foursome”
Sharon Canter	“Another Autumn”
Amanda Prince	“Just Bee”
John Nichols	“Fontana Otter”
Dana Warren	“The Pane of Defeat”
Lonnie Crotts	“Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorium)”

Landscape :: Scenic imagery capturing the rich diversity and natural beauty of the Southern Appalachian region.

Kimberly G. Lane	“Seen Any Good Flicks Lately”
Ronnie Hodge	“Autumn Reflections”
Kenneth Voltz	“Looking Glass Rock Sunrise”
Catherine Hopkins	“Along the Boone Fork Trail Near the Blue Ridge Parkway”
Dana Warren	“Downstream Drifter”
Scott Hotaling	“Winter Majesty” & “Winter Tranquility”
Jack Daulton	“Clearing Storm Over Grandfather”
Lonnie Crotts	“Linville Gorge Wilderness Area” & “Mountain King”
Dave Allen	“A Glorious Greeting – Roan Mountain Rhododendron Bloom”
Eric Heistand	“Morning at Price Lake”
Sharon Canter	“Appalachian Night Lights”

For more information about this photography competition, please visit appmtnphotocomp.org, or call Outdoor Programs at 828.262.2475.

Press Releases

10th Annual AMPC Jurors Announced

November 1, 2012 AMPC Staff

The 10th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC) has announced this year’s jurors. This panel of jurors has a varied background in photography and a love for the natural environment.

Chip Williams

Chip Williams is Assistant Professor of Technical Photography at Appalachian State University and has worked as a corporate and editorial freelance photographer for over 18 years in Chicago. He shot for national magazines such as Smithsonian, US News & World Report, ESPN the Magazine, Kiplinger’s, Money and Parade to name a few. Previous to his move to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Chip was active with prairie restoration in Lake County, IL and worked extensively with the Lake County Forest Preserve District as a client to help them document their work in this area, as well as wildlife monitoring and naturalist education.

Jamey Fletcher

Jamey Fletcher is a professional photographer based in the North Carolina High Country specializing in event, wedding, and portrait photography in the southeastern United States. Jamey is the son of recently retired Appalachian State University Professor Jeff Fletcher who introduced Jamey to the world of photography at a very early age. From the time Jamey was old enough stand on a stool and reach an enlarger, he was in the darkroom learning the art of making images. Jamey’s photography career began at the age of 14 working as a stringer and a Staff Photographer for the Watauga Democrat newspaper in Boone, NC. Jamey’s love of the outdoors and photography create his intrinsic passion of nature photography.

Marie Freeman

Marie Freeman is a seasoned photojournalist who has worked for both the Watauga Democrat and Mountain Times newspapers for nearly fourteen years. In 2008, she joined the Appalachian State Advancement team as the University’s photographer and works in the Department of Marketing and Creative Design. Recognized professional accomplishments include: 15 North Carolina Press Association photography awards; First place award in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education for her body of Snowflake microphotography work; and being published in numerous state and national newspapers and magazines including the Washington Post, USA Today, the New York Times, Detroit Free Press and Our State magazine.

“We are thrilled to announce our jurors this year. Our jurors range from veterans in the photography world to up and coming professionals. It is a diverse group of jurors, and will provide a strong and varied perspective from which to view the images,” states AMPC Competition Director, Rich Campbell. “We are excited to have these individuals be a part of the AMPC who will dedicate their time, talent, and expertise to the competition this year.”

The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition offers numerous categories that will be chosen as winners with over $4,000 in cash and prizes. Jurors Chip Williams, Jamey Fletcher, and Marie Freeman will review all entries and narrow them down to approximately forty-six images that will be displayed in exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, March 1 to August 16, 2013. From those images, the judges will select the final winners which will be showcased during the exhibition and at the 17th annual Banff Film Festival September 20 and 21, 2013.

For more information about this photography competition, please visit appmtnphotocomp.org, or call Outdoor Programs at 828.262.2475.

Press Releases

9th Annual AMPC Winners Announced

April 6, 2012 AMPC Staff

A new record was set for total entries submitted to this year’s Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition! The judges sorted through a total of 1,156 entries and somehow managed to narrow the field down to 49 finalists.

Grandfather’s View of the Milky Way (Dale Forrest), 9th Annual Best in Show

Now that the People’s Choice Award Voting has closed, we can announce this year’s category winners, the People’s Choice Winner (below), and of course, the coveted Best in Show (above)!

Mount LeConte Winter (Scott Hotaling) - 9th Annual People's Choice Award — Mount LeConte Winter (Scott Hotaling) – 9th Annual People’s Choice Award

Thanks to all of the photographers this year for participating, as well as the general public at large for helping us to get the word out with press releases, blog posts, blog comments, etc. If you, or someone you know, would like to participate as a competition sponsor or supporter, please contact Rich Campbell, Competition Director, at 828-262-2475.

AMPC is funded through the generous contributions of our partners, sponsors and supporters. You can provide needed operational support to AMPC by choosing to make a donation and/or offering us feedback on your user experience.

9th Annual Winners List

Below we have listed the the winners for top honors, categories, and special mentions.

9th Annual Best In Show	Grandfather’s View of the Milky Way by Dale Forrest
9th Annual People’s Choice Award	Mount LeConte Winter by Scott Hotaling
AMPC Category Winners
Adventure	Adventure Awaits by Kristian Jackson
Blue Ridge Parkway – A Ribbon of Road	Tunnel Effects by Adam Wolfe
Culture	American Girls by Darron Silva
Our Environmental Footprint	Wind Power by Cameron Baskin
Flora & Fauna	Muskrat with Ranger by Banister Pope
Landscape	Stars Over Cades Cove by Spencer Black
Special Mention Honors An additional six photographers have been recognized as having images of distinction and merit and received Special Mention Honors from the judges.
Adventure	The Start by Eric Heistand
Blue Ridge Parkway – A Ribbon of Road	The 298 by Eric Heistand
Culture	Roadside Attraction by Andi Gelsthorpe
Culture	The Family Business by Toril Lavendar
Culture	The Intimidator by Jim Ruff
Flora & Fauna	White Horse by Jerry Atnip
Flora & Fauna	Cardinal by Dot Griffith

9th Annual Winners Gallery

Your participation this year will help to make the Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions through ASU’s Outdoor Programs an experience of a lifetime for many students. Thank you for your unwavering support and enthusiasm!

Click here for AMPC press & media resource information.

Press Releases

9th Annual AMPC Finalists Announced

December 8, 2011 AMPC Staff

Thank you to all photographers who submitted to the 9th annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition. This year’s panel of judges have selected 49 images for exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.

Caught in Flight (Amanda Prince), 9th Annual Finalist Flora & Fauna category

Congratulations from the organizers and sponsors of the AMPC to all the selected photographers and a sincere thank you to everyone who submitted photographs for consideration sharing their vision of the people, places and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians.

9th Annual AMPC Finalist List

Adventure :: Imagery depicting mountain sports such as climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, etc.

Lynn Willis	“Up and Over By the Linville River”
Stefan Olson	“Southern Comfort”
Eric Heistand	“The Start” & “Rocky Knob P.O.V.”
Kristian Jackson	“Adventure Awaits”
Collin Waldron	“Backcountry Chef”
Matt Powell	“Chimney Sunset”

Blue Ridge Parkway – Ribbon of Road :: A rotating category each year with a different theme.

Tommy White	“Bird’s Eye View”
Dale King	“Rough Ridge Autumn Sunrise”
Eric Heistand	“The 298”
Rob Travis	“Emerging…”
Adam Wolfe	“Tunnel Effects”
Chris Gatti	“Starry Parkway”
Nina Ackley	“Viaduct at Twilight”

Culture :: Imagery depicting the people, their customs, traditions, architecture, and ways of life unique to the Southern Appalachian region.

Andi Gelsthorpe	“Roadside Attraction”
Kristian Jackson	“Elk Knob, USA”
Toril Lavender	“The Family Business”
Clayton Joe Young	“Bertha’s Love”
Jim Ruff	“The Intimidator”
Rob Travis	“Creation at the Potter’s Wheel” & “Carpenter”
Jeffrey Stoner	“In the High Weeds” & “Lamplight”
Chuck Almarez	“Clifton Forge from Smith Creek Yard”
Chris Wood	“Smoke ‘Em If Ya Got ‘Em”
Ginger Goekjian	“Mamma’s Room”
Lonnie Crotts	“These Eyes”
Darron R Silva	“American Girls”
Raymond Grubb	“Confederate Reenactor”

Environment :: Imagery documenting environmental concerns in Central and Southern Appalachia.

Jeffrey Stoner	“Scattered”
Hannah Furgiuele	“Parents Beware”
Cameron Baskin	“Wind Power”

Flora and Fauna :: Imagery of plants and animals common to the Southern Appalachians.

Banister Pope	“Muskrat with Ranger”
Dot Griffith	“Cardinal”
Debra Vanderlaan	“Morning Pink”
Amanda Prince	“Caught in Flight”
Jerry Atnip	“White Horse”
Diana Johnson-Martin	“Veined Leaf”
Rene Treece Roberts	“Kaleidoscope”

Landscape :: Scenic imagery capturing the rich diversity and natural beauty of the Southern Appalachian region.

Scott Hotaling	“Mount LeConte Winter”
Dale King	“Primeval Branches”
Dale Forrest	“Grandfather’s View of the Milky Way”
Kristian Jackson	“Rocky Knob Fire”
Dave Allen	“Jane Bald in Bloom – Roan Highlands Landscape”
Ryan Sigsbey	“Stream of Clarity”
John Grogan	“Fallen”
Daniel Burleson	“Out Of The Mist”
Spencer Black	“Stars Over Cades Cove”
Ann Fitzsimmons	“Valle Crucis Pines”

Remember, the exhibition at the Turchin Center on the campus of Appalachian State University opens on Friday February 3rd, 2012 and the images selected for exhibition will be posted in our photography archives as soon as the People’s Choice Award voting begins on February 3rd. This night also marks the opening reception of the 9th annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition.

To all of this year’s participants: thank you for your support and participation. Together all of you keep raising the bar. Proceeds from the annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition support Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions (SOLE Trips) at Appalachian State University. Visit www.op.appstate.edu to learn more.

Press Releases

9th Annual AMPC Jurors Announced

October 26, 2011 AMPC Staff

This year’s jurors for the 9th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition have been announced!

“All of our jurors this year are passionate about the outdoors, possess a significant and varied photographic background, and have been committed to the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition in some way over the years,” states AMPC Competition Director, Rich Campbell. “We are thrilled to have these individuals be a part of the AMPC who are dedicating their time, talent, and expertise to the competition this year.”

William A. Bake

William A. Bake has photographed the South for over 35 years and has created five successful books as well as booklets, prints, and posters. Considered one of the South’s premier landscape photographers, Bake has captured many of the unique landscapes found in the southern Appalachians.

Among his published photography books are Wayfarer: A Voice from the Southern Mountains with James Dickey; The American South: Four Seasons of the Land and Towns and Cities, both with James J. Kilpatrick; and The Blue Ridge. In addition to being a well-regarded photographer, Bake is also an accomplished writer and interpreter of the natural and cultural heritage of the United States.

Ellen Gwin

Ellen Gwin grew up in a family full of artists and fell in love with photography in middle school. Having graduated from Appalachian State University with a double major in Technical Photography and Communication, Gwin has been working professionally as a photographer ever since. She enjoys shooting photography in both film and digital formats.

Passionate about her home in western North Carolina and the amazing natural and outdoor resources available, Gwin strives to promote these resources at every given chance.

Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller developed a passion for photography in the mid-nineties when he began capturing the wild and unique places he found himself working in as an outdoor educator and guide. He continues to work as a freelance photographer capturing the work of artists for print, web, and archival purposes and has had images published in fine art catalogs and WNC Magazine.

While working at Appalachian State University, Andrew developed the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition and Exhibition and oversaw the competition through the first 8 years.

General Notes

Meet Rich Campbell, AMPC Competition Director

October 14, 2011 AMPC Staff

From Rich Campbell, Competition Director for the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition

The AMPC has grown into one of the most prestigious regional photography competitions and we aim to strengthen that position. We have developed a very strong partnership with local entities such as the Turchin Center, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Virtual Blue Ridge, Appalachian Voices, the Mast General Store, Bistro Roca, Footsloggers, Peabody’s, Stick Boy Bread Company, and others.

Connections in the community create so many opportunities for us as a competition. We really want this to continue to be a true community event. We want people who visit the exhibition in the Turchin Center between February and June to feel like they have just seen the best collection of images available that depict the unique character, people, places, and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians.

I have been Associate Director at ASU Outdoor Programs for 15 years, and am thrilled to be more closely linked to the competition. I have directed the Banff Film Festival every year since its inception and I am excited to work closely with both the photography competition and film festival this year. The two events complement one another so well that it is a natural progression.

We have intentionally created the AMPC to be a part of the Banff Film Festival weekend. That weekend has really turned into a celebration of mountain culture. The Banff Film Festival brings films from all over the globe highlighting mountain culture. The AMPC is a way for our community to interact, in a very personal level through photography, with our own mountain region and community. We have Banff bring us films from all corners of the globe, and we have our own community showcasing new aspects of our beloved Southern Appalachian region through the AMPC. It is a great ‘local to global festival’ on mountain culture every spring, right here in Boone.

Our Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions (SOLE) are programs and trips that are longer and they travel to more diverse locations in North America and abroad. SOLE programs emphasize discovery of self and expedition team members – as well as discovery of the landscapes and cultures of the wilderness areas and countries we explore. We travel in regions of countries that are seldom visited, remote and exceptionally beautiful. Traveling in these settings through adventure education, students learn valuable skills in leadership, perseverance, group dynamics, teamwork, responsibility, wilderness ethics and global perspectives.

Video for New Zealand SOLE Trip

Proceeds from the Banff Film Festival and the AMPC make these experiences, that many students share with us as life changing, more accessible to more students.

We encourage photographers to enter this competition regardless of their previous experience. We do have professional photographers who enter, but we have also had plenty of success with amateur photographers in the past, including amateurs who have captured Best in Show. Photographers who capture a unique perspective of a familiar landscape or an interesting take on a familiar subject tend to do really well in this competition.

One of the primary goals of the AMPC is to encourage photographers to grab their camera and create their own story that they want to share with our community. When hundreds of people do this, the end result is a powerful exhibition and an important archive of what is so special to our own mountain community that we call home.

Press Releases

9th Annual AMPC Has Begun!

August 3, 2011 AMPC Staff

Professional and amateur photographers are officially invited to participate in this year’s Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition! Every year the competition gets more fierce as photographers from all over the world submit hundreds of entries for review. What will you be submitting this year?

There are a couple of new developments for this year’s competition that we’d like to make everyone aware of.

The prize for the Our Ecological Footprint category is larger than ever, totalling $450. Appalachian Voices will be furnishing $200 cash while Mast General Store will be contributing a prize package worth $250. That makes this category the 3rd largest prize! If you need inspiration on capturing imagery that shows negative impacts on the environment in Southern Appalachia please visit the Appalachian Voices website for the latest news.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation‘s category, Blue Ridge Parkway — A Ribbon of Road, will focus on images of the Blue Ridge Parkway that incorporate some aspect of the roadway itself.

Please note that this year’s timeframe for submissions is a bit different as well. This year’s contest starts August 1, 2011 with a deadline for submissions on November 18, 2011.

As usual, please help us spread the word! We have press releases available on our Media page. If you’re promoting the comp on Twitter, please use the hashtag #appmtnphoto.

Remember that a portion of the proceeds raised from the AMPC support Outdoor Programs Student Learning Expeditions at Appalachian State University. SOLE trips take students around the world on educational journeys of discovery. Visit the Outdoor Programs website to learn more about this exciting program.

Thank you for your support this year and Happy Shooting!

Press Releases

8th Annual AMPC Winners Announced

April 7, 2011 AMPC Staff

Final judging is complete: category winners and special mentions have been chosen, and of course Best In Show and the People’s Choice Award. This year’s Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition brought an array of photographs to the judge’s table, and as always, the bar was set even higher for next year.

Eustace (Joe Young), 8th Annual Winner - Best in Show — Eustace (Joe Young), 8th Annual Winner – Best in Show

Thanks to all of the photographers this year for participating, as well as the general public at large for helping us to get the word out with press releases, blog posts, blog comments, etc. If you, or someone you know, would like to participate as a competition sponsor or supporter, please contact Andrew Miller, Competition Director, at 828-262-4954.

Bull Elk at Dawn (Scott Hotaling), 8th Annual People's Choice Award — Bull Elk at Dawn (Scott Hotaling), 8th Annual People’s Choice Award

8th Annual Winner’s List

8th Annual Best In Show	Eustace by Joe Young
8th Annual People’s Choice Award	Bull Elk at Dawn by Scott Hotaling
AMPC Category Winners
Adventure	Not Fit for Man or Beast by Kristian Jackson
Blue Ridge Parkway Journey	244 by David Anderson
Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas	Pounding Mill Shadows by Ken Voltz
Culture	Max Woody’s Chair Shop by Kristian Jackson
Our Environmental Footprint	Reflecting on Mountains Lost by Megan Naylor
Flora & Fauna	Nash by Jeffery Stoner
Landscape	Wild West by Nicholas D’Amato
Special Mention Honors An additional seven photographers have been recognized as having images of distinction and merit and received Special Mention Honors from the judges.
Adventure	Morning Crossing by Russ Taylor
Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas	Ice Blue by Brenda Ellis
Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas	Cold Mountain by Scott Hotaling
Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas	Viaduct Stars by Zack Wilson
Flora & Fauna	Bull Elk at Dawn by Scott Hotaling
Flora & Fauna	Hummer, Landing by Rob Travis
Landscape	Fall in the Gorge by Scott Hotaling
Landscape	Web Dotted Fence by Amber Brown

8th Annual Winner’s Gallery

Click here for AMPC press & media resource information.

General Notes, Press Releases

AMPC Lunch and Learn at the Turchin Center

March 18, 2011 AMPC Staff

Community members and a Crossnore School photography class attended the annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, March 16 at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. Brook Bower, Assistant Curator and Competition Director Andrew Miller spoke about the role AMPC plays as part of a greater celebration of mountain life.

The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is part of a trio of programs coordinated by Outdoor Programs that celebrate our unique mountain culture each spring. April 1st and 2nd will mark the 15th annual screening of the Banff Mountain film festival in Boone to one of the largest audiences on the North American tour. Each year, the festival features the world’s best films on mountain adventure, culture, and the environment selected from hundreds of entries submitted from around the world. We choose screenings designed to educate, entertain, and inspire the high country audience.

Outdoor Programs is also excited to introduce the Appalachian Adventure Achievement Award (A4). Our goal is to inspire youth to adopt a healthy, and active outdoor lifestyle and to celebrate young people in our community and who inspire others through their active, healthy, and adventurous lives.

This years judges then lead the group through the exhibition answering questions and sharing their experience in selecting the 46 finalists from among all entries. “The goal of the AMPC is to give people an active way to connect with the themes of mountain culture, environment, and sport that are highlighted in our annual screenings of the Banff Mountain Film Festival”, says Andrew Miller, Competition Director and Outdoor Programs Coordinator. “To have this additional opportunity to share AMPC with the community is just icing on the cake.”

General Notes

Outdoor Programs To Present 1st Annual A4 Award

February 21, 2011 AMPC Staff

Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs is seeking your help in identifying the High Country’s role models and young mountain sports stars. These young men and women will be recognized through the first ever A4 inititiative – Appalachian Adventure Achievement Award. Honors will include recognition on stage at the Banff Mountain Film Festivals, and a selection of prizes made possible by project sponsors.

There are two age categories for the A4: 17 and under, and 18-24 years old. Nominees must either reside or attend school in the High Country of NC (Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties) to be eligible. Nominations can be submitted for individuals in successive years, but a nominee can only receive the A4 once for their age category. The April 1 screening of Banff will recognize the 17 and under A4 winner, while the April 2 screening will honor the 18-24 year-old A4 winner.